Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

ears and eyes out, there wasn’t much they could do. The whole situation stunk. Not having a lead or a suspect to question made him feel like a fish caught in a net. It didn’t help matters that his gut was telling him Sonya’s problems had only begun.
    “Want a Coke?” Judd asked, joining Garrett at the rail.
    Skip was captaining the boat, and listening for any interesting chatter on the VHF, while he and Judd were stationed on deck with binoculars, keeping an eye out for anyone violating the drift opening.
    “Yeah, thanks.” Garrett took the soda Judd offered, flipped the top, and drank deep. He’d prefer a thermos of coffee. He was chilled to the bone and needed to work up some steam.
    The day was overcast. The constant rain had dropped the temperature into the thirties. Any lower and it would snow.
    He’d forgotten how cold a South Naknek summer could be. Fog played on the river, making their job even harder. The AWT planes and helicopters were grounded due to the weather, which left the remaining troopers on the water and shore to police the area. Garrett knew the fishermen were taking advantage of the situation. It was a perfect day to catch fish, by legal means or not.
    “Sonya’s got under your skin, hasn’t she?” Judd casually sipped his Coke while his question hammered into Garrett’s consciousness. “Women have a sneaky way about them. Before we know it we’re smitten.”
    Was he smitten? Of course, he was. Sonya consumed his thoughts, his dreams, hell even his job was being taken over by her. Here he was, scouting for violators and hoping he’d catch sight of the Double Dippin’ . She wouldn’t be happy if he “happened” to stop by.
    Probably try and fillet him like a fish with her tongue, which actually wasn’t that bad an image. He shook his head clear of the picture as Judd rambled on.
    “Take Davida for instance,” Judd continued as though not needing confirmation over Garrett’s state of smittenness. “That woman likes to torment me.”
    Garrett felt a bit tormented himself. Sonya was like an itch he couldn’t reach. It was refreshing to concentrate on another man’s woman issues. “Torments you? Do I want to know how?”
    “Nothing like that, unfortunately. I went to see her yesterday when you were off with the Savonskis, and she barely gave me the time of day.” Judd drained his Coke and then crushed the can into a flat disk.
    “Maybe she was busy.”
    “Too busy for me?” Judd scoffed. “She couldn’t get enough of me the last time we were together.”
    “Maybe that was enough for her.” Garrett laughed at the incredulous look Judd sent his way. “Or maybe not.”
    “Definitely not.” He huffed. “You’ve always had a way with women. Heard your code name in the Navy was Orca. You didn’t earn that name from the way you handle a gun. I’ve seen you shoot, so I assume it’s the killer way you have with the ladies.”
    Garrett slid him a glance. Where had Judd picked up that tidbit of information? He’d been nicknamed Orca for the silent way he killed with his hands, not for his way with women. And he sure as hell could shoot a gun. It just wasn’t his weapon of choice.
    “Women are just as much a mystery to me as they are to the next man.” Garrett finished his Coke and showed Judd that he could crush the can with his bare hands too.
    “Well, crap, Hunt. I had high hopes that you’d lead me down the right road. Skip told me to bring her chocolates.”
    Garrett nodded. “Sounds good. I don’t know of a woman who doesn’t like chocolates.”
    “Davida runs the only store this side of Naknek that sells chocolates. I can’t go in there, buy them from her, and then give them to her. How pathetic is that?”
    “Pretty pathetic.” So was this conversation. Whatever happened to men being men? Men did not “talk.” Girls talked. “Try flowers.”
    “Where am I going to get flowers? Do you see a florist anywhere? I’d have to have them flown in from Anchorage, and the State doesn’t pay me that well.”
    Garrett rolled his eyes. “Judd, look around.” He gestured to the surrounding shore, not that they could see it with the draping fog everywhere. “Go and pick her wildflowers.”
    “Hey.” Judd’s whole demeanor brightened. “Now that is a damn good idea. Thanks, Orca.”
    Garrett grabbed Judd’s arm as he lifted his binoculars. “Only SEALs get to call me that.” He met Judd’s surprised gaze. “Got it?”
    “Man, you guys are a